STEALTHY APPROACH OF A TIGER. Ill 



caution was all the answer received by M., and the shaking 

 hand directed his attention to a mass of rocks on which the 

 moonbeams shone brightly, but among the shadows of which 

 his straining eyes could detect nothing remarkable. M. in- 

 formed me that at this moment the platform shook with the 

 trembling of his attendant, whom he again questioned angrily 

 as to what he was to look at, but the only reply was the shaking 

 finger of the shivering wretch pointing over his shoulder to 

 the front while he shook as if in an ague fit and his parched 

 tongue refused the utterance of a word. Something which M. 

 had taken to be a piece of white quartz roc*k now moved and 

 fell, and again rising appeared to approach very slowly till 

 within twenty paces, and then a long shadowy form crouched 

 close to the earth, where the crisp moonlight cast the shadow 

 of a bush, having crept up without disturbing a pebble or 

 crunching a dry leaf or twig in its silent advance. M. now 

 distinctly made out the outlines of an immense tiger, but 

 hesitated to fire in the uncertain light at so great a distance. 

 Presently the tiger rose and from the distance of a dozen or 

 fifteen yards flung himself at the " machan " with a deep and 

 murderous growl. "Now or never," thought M., as he fired 

 the right barrel of his heavy rifle at the tiger's head. The 

 shot told, and the wounded monster, springing up on his hind 

 legs, bounded aside with a roar of pain and anger, and on 

 receiving the fire of the other barrel leapt into some bushes 

 and bamboos from which groans and hoarse gurgling sounds 

 were heard for some time. M. made sure that he had secured 

 his game, although unable to reach him as he then lay pro- 

 tected from his fire, nor did he feel disposed to descend to 

 make a closer inspection. By and by the tiger was heard to 

 stagger on till he reached a thick clump of bamboos, and then 

 no more was heard or seen of him till M. came off his perch 

 at daylight and was rejoined by his followers, rejoicing in the 

 anticipation of a good meal of sambur venison. 



An examination of the ground in front of the platform 

 being then made, a fragment of the lower jaw and a portion of 

 the upper lip of the tiger were picked up, and a good deal of 



